Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-04-22
CHAPTER TX.
TWALA THE KING


1t will not be necessary for me TO detail at
| length the incidents of our journey to Loo.
1t took two days travelling along Solomon's
Great Road, which pursued its even course
right into the heart OF Kukuanaand. Suffice
1t to say that as we went tie country seemed
TO grow richer and richer, and the kraals,
with their wide surrounding belts of cultiva-
! ton, more and more numerous. They were
all built upon the same principles as the first
ones we had reached, and were guarded by
ample garriSons of troops. Indeed, in Ku-
kuanaland, rs among the Germans, the
Zulus, and the Nasal, every able-bodied man
was soldier, so that the whole force of the
nation is available for its wars, offensive or
defensive. AS we travelled along we were
overtaken by thousands of warriors hurryng
up to Loo to be present at the great annual
review and festival, and n grander series of
troops never saw. At sunset on the second
day we stopped to rest awhile upon the sum-
nit OF some heights over which the road ram
and there on beautiful and fertile plain be-
fore us was Loo itself. For native town 1t
was an enormous place, quite five miles
round l should say, with outlying kraals jut-
ting out from it, which serve on grand occa-
SiOns as environments for the regiments, and
a curious horseshoe-shaped hill, with which
we were destined to become better acquant-
ed, about two miles to the north 1t was
beautifully situated, and through the center
OF the kraal, dividing ii into two portions,
ran a river, which appeared to be bridged at
several places, the same perhaps that we had
seen from the slopes of Shebas Breasts.
Sixty or seventy miles away three great
snow-cappcd mountains, placed like the
points of a triangle, started up out of the
level plain. The conformation of these
mountains was unlike that of Sheba's
Breasts, being sheer and precipitous, in
stead of smooth and rounded.
lnfadoos saw us looking at them, and vol
unteered remark:
The road ends there he said, pointing
TO the mountains known among the Kukua-
mas rs the Three Witches"
why does 1t end%' | asked.
who knowsp' he answered with a shrug;
1.-THE mountains are fall o. caves and there is
great pit between them. 1t is there that
the wise men OF old time used to 30 to get
whatever it was they came TO this country
for, aud it is there now that our kings are
buried in the Place of Death"
What was it they came for?'' | asked,
eagerly,
Nay, know not My lords who come
from the stars should know" he answered
with quick look. Evidently he knew
more than he chose to say.
Yes" went on, ''you are right; IL the
stars we know many things. l have heard,
for instance that the wise men of old came
to these mountains to get bright stones,
pretty playthings, and yellow iron"
My lord Is wise" he answered coldly;
II am but Il child and cannot talk with my
lord on such things. Ny lord must speak
with GagnOl the old, at the kings place,
who is wise even rs my lord," and he turned
away.
As soon as he was gone | turned 10 the
Others and pointed out the mountains.
There are Solomon's diamond Mines" /
said.
Umbopa was standing With them, appar-
emily plunged in one OF the fits of abStrac-
ton which We're common TO him, and caught
my words.
"Yes, Macumazahn," ne put i'm. in Zulu,
1.-THE diamonds are surely there, and you
shall have them, since you white men are so
fond of toys and money"
"llow do you know that, Umeopa?" l
asked sharply, for did not like his mystsr-
ious ways.
He laughed: Il dream it in the night
W
his heel and went
Now what" said Sir Henry, lis our
black friend at? He knows more than he
chooses 10 say, that is clear. BY the way.
Quatcrmain, has he heard anything of-of
my hrother?'
Nothing; he las asked every one he has
got friendly with. nut they all declare no
white man is ever been seen in the country
before
white people, whence come We, and wha.
seek yes'
we come from the stars, ask us not
how. We come TO see this land
"Ye come from far to see little thing.
And that man with ye,' pointing to limbo
pa, does he too come from the stars?''
Even so; there are people of thy color in
the heavens above; but ask not of matters
too high for thee, Twala, the king"
"Ye speak with loud voice, people OF the
stars" Twala answered, in tone which L
scarcely liked. Remember that the stars
are far of, and We are here. How If make
We as him whom they bear away
/ laughed out loud though there was little
laughter in my heart
oh. king" said, "be careful. walk wa
rily over hot stones, lest thou shouldSt burn
thy feet; hold the spear by the handle, lest
hou shouldst cut thy hands. Touch but one
hair of our heads, and destruction shall come
upon thee. What, have not these" pointing
to lnfadoos and Scragga (who. young villain
that he was, was employed in cleaning the
blood of the soldier off his spear. told thee
what manner of men we are? Hast thou
ever seen the like of usT' and | pointed 10
Good, feeling quite sure that he had never
seen anybody before who looked in the least
like him as he then appeared
1T is true, have not" said the king.
Have they not told thee how we strike
with death from afarr'